Apparatus, and associated method, for supporting SMS messaging by way of an IP network

ABSTRACT

Apparatus, and an associated method, for communicating short message service content to a short message service center. The address of an IP-SM-GW (Internet Protocol-Short Message-Gateway) defined in the 3GPP TS 23.204 is provided to user equipment and used to address an SIP request that contains encapsulated SMS content. The address is stored at the mobile station at a storage element, such as at a SIM card, UICC, or management object. A SIP request generator accesses the storage element and uses the address as the address of the SIP request. The SIP request also includes SMS content, in encapsulation, therein.

The present invention relates generally to a manner by which tocommunicate an SMS (Short Message Service) message to a service centerby way of a communication network. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to apparatus, and an associated method, by which toform, and to communicate, an SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) requestthat contains an encapsulated SMS message, addressed in a manner topermit its routing to a service center by way of an access bearer IP(Internet Protocol).

SMS messaging service is provided irrespective of the IP network-typethrough which the message is transported. The SIP request is routed toan IP-SM-GW (Internet Protocol-Short Message-Gateway) forming an IU(Interworking Unit) between a generic IP network and on to a shortmessage service center. Or the SIP request is routed directly to theshort message service center in the event that an IP-SM-GW is notrequired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Advancements in communication technologies have provided the basis forthe development and deployment of communication systems that provide formany varied communication services to communicate information betweencommunication endpoints. While the advancements affect many areas ofcommunications, one significant area of advancement is in the field ofdigital communications. The use of digital communication techniquesprovides for various advantages. And, as a result, communication systemsincreasingly are deployed, and existing systems are converted, toutilize digital communication techniques.

In telephonic communication systems, both wireline communication systemsand mobile communication systems, there has been an ongoing evolution ofcommunications from circuit-switched technologies to packet-switchedtechnologies. And, in particular, the packet-switched technologiestypically utilize IP-based (Internet Protocol-based) protocols. Forexample, voice services that are provided using SIP (Session InitiationProtocol) and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) are increasinglycommon. Messaging services are also commonly carried out using IP-basedprotocols. SIP-based messages are, for instance, communicated betweenpeers forming communication endpoints by way of an IP network.

SMS (Short Message Service) is another exemplary messaging service. SMSwas first developed for use in conjunction with a GSM (Global System forMobile communications) communication system, a communication system thatutilizes circuit-switched technologies. GPRS (General Packet RadioService), a packet-switched technology for GSM has more recently beendeployed. And, provisions have been made for the support ofcommunication of SMS messages by way of the packet-switched GPRSarchitecture provided in a GSM/GPRS communication system.

SMS messaging, even when provided as a packet-switched, GPRS-basedservice, remains fundamentally tied to a GSM/GPRS network. That is tosay, the short message service, and the communication of messagespursuant thereto, conventionally requires use of a GSM/GPRS network.And, concomitantly, for communication of an SMS message, availabilityof, and access to, a GSM/GPRS network is required. SMS messaging, atpresent, is not based upon an access-independent IP bearer.

With continued evolution of communications to packet-switched-basedsystems, particularly IP-based systems, much attention has been directedtowards interworking between circuit-switched networks andpacket-switched networks with the expectation of eventual evolutioncompletely to IP-based networks. Mechanisms are required by which toprovide for communication interworking between different types ofnetworks as communication systems and their networks evolve towards allIP-based networks. Amongst the mechanisms that are required is amechanism by which to provide for SMS messaging over an IP bearer.

It is in light of this background information related to SMS messagingthat the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of the architecture of anexemplary network in which an embodiment of the present invention isoperable.

FIG. 2 illustrates a representation of the protocol layers defined, andused, pursuant to SMS messaging in the network whose architecture isrepresented in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a functional block diagram of a communication systemthat provides for SMS messaging pursuant to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a functional block diagram, similar to that shown inFIG. 3, but of an all-IP network.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method flow diagram listing the method of operationof an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides apparatus,and an associated method, by which to communicate an SMS (Short MessageService) message to a service center by way of a communication network.

Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, a manner isprovided by which to address an SIP request that contains anencapsulated SMS message, addressed in a manner to permit its routing toa service center by way of an access bearer IP.

In one aspect of the present invention, SMS message service is providedirrespective of the IP access network through which the message isrouted. The SIP request is routed to an IP-SM-GW (InternetProtocol-Short Message-Gateway) forming an IWU (Interworking Unit)between a generic IP network and then onto a short message servicecenter. Alternately, the SIP request is routed directly to the shortmessage service center in the event that the network need not include aninterworking unit, such as the IP-SM-GW.

In another aspect of the present invention, a storage element isprovided to an originating communication device, such as a mobilestation, at which an address that identifies the IP-SM-GW is stored. Thestorage element is accessed to retrieve the address when thecommunication device is to send SMS content. The retrieved address,retrieved from the storage element, is used to address an SIP requestthat is formed and contains, e.g., in encapsulation, SMS content. Theaddress stored at the storage element forms, e.g., the IP address of anIP-SM-GW, or other interworking unit. Or, the address identifies a shortmessage service center, if the short message service center isidentifiable by an IP address, and the SIP request is capable of beingrouted directly thereto. When delivered to the interworking unit, theinterworking unit operates to forward on contents of the SIP request tothe short message service center.

In another aspect of the present invention, the storage element isembodied at an SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card or at a UICC(Universal Integrated Circuit Card). The address stored at the SIM cardor UICC is stored thereat, e.g., during initial provisioning of themobile station forming the communication device or subsequently toinitial provisioning, such as during mobile-station registration orotherwise during operation of the mobile station.

In another aspect of the present invention, a provisioning mechanism isprovided by which to provision the communication device with theidentifier of the IM-SM-GW or SMSC. The provisioning mechanism isformed, for instance, of a detector operable pursuant to OMA (OpenMobile Alliance) device management protocols to detect OMA-formattedsignals broadcast, or otherwise sent, thereto that identify the addressof the IM-SM-GW. An entry in a managed object, e.g., is made availableat the mobile station forming the communication device to contain theaddress sent thereto. Alternately, the managed object that is used tocontain the address is an IMS MO or a connectivity managed object forSMS. Alternately, the provisioning mechanism utilizes CDMA (CodeDivision Multiple Access) OTA (Over The Air) provisioning and isconfigured to be capable of detecting a CDMA OTA provisioning signalsent thereto. Or, alternately, the SMS signaling, communicated by way ofa circuit-switched bearer is used to provide the appropriate address.Proprietary provisioning mechanisms are, alternately, available for use.And, if a wired connection is available, such as when a mobile stationis connected to a docking port and connected to a wired data network,the address is able to be provided to the mobile station by way of thewired connection.

In another aspect of the present invention, the SIP request that isaddressed with the address of the IP-SM-GW or SMSC and that contains theencapsulated SMS content forms an SIP message method, or other protocolprimitive of the SIP protocol. The SIP message method is permitting ofMIME-type content to be exchanged between SIP-capable devices.

In another aspect of the present invention, the address that identifiesthe IP-SM-GW or SMSC forms a SIP URI, a TEL URI, or a TEL URL. The valueof the URI or URL is resolvable to an IP address of a gateway used tointerwork SIP/IP with SMS signaling to an SMSC or directly of the SMSC.

Thereby, an SMS message is transportable by way of a generic, IPnetwork, deliverable to an SMSC to provide SMS messaging functionalityto a communication device at which the message is originated as well asto a destination station forming a communication endpoint at which theSMS message is to be delivered.

In these and other aspects, therefore, apparatus, and an associatedmethod, is provided for a short-message-service-capable communicationdevice. Communication of a message by way of a network having networkentities including at least a short message service center isfacilitated. A storage element is configured to store an identifier thatidentifies a selected network entity of the network entities. A sessioninitiation protocol request generator is adapted to receive theidentifier stored at the storage element. The session initiationprotocol request generator is configured to generate an SIP request thatis addressed with the identifier, and the request has a short messageservice content encapsulated therein. The request, once addressed, ispermitting of routing thereof to the short message service center.

Referring, therefore, to FIG. 1, the architecture of a communicationsystem, shown generally at 10, that provides SMS (Short Message Service)signaling over SIP/IP (Session Initiation Protocol/Internet Protocol) isshown. User equipment (UE) 12 is representative of a mobile station, orother communication device, that is SMS-capable. While the followingdescription shall describe exemplary operation of the communicationsystem in which SMS content is originated at the UE formed of a mobilestation, such description is merely exemplary. The user equipment isalso representative of any of various other types of communicationdevices.

The user equipment is connected to an IMS core 14 by way of a Gminterface 16. And, the IMS core, in turn, is coupled to an IP-SM-GW 18by way of an ISC interface 22. The IP-SM-GW 18 forms an interworkingunit (IWU) that provides interworking functions between an IP networkcore, here the IMS core 14, and a GSM/GPRS network.

Here, the IP-SM-GW 18 is coupled to a GMSC/SMS/IWMSC (Gateway MobileSwitching Center/Short Message Service/Interworking Mobile SwitchingCenter) 24 by way of an E/Gd interface 26. And, the entity 24 isconnected to a SMSC 28, in conventional manner, in turn, connectable toa short message entity (SME) 32 forming a communication endpoint towhich an SMS message is deliverable.

The architecture of the communication system is further shown to includean OCS 34, coupled to the gateway 18 by way of an Ro interface, aCGF/CDF 36 coupled to the gateway 18 by way of a Rf gateway, and an HSS38, coupled to the entities 14, 18, and 24 by way of the interfaces Cx,Sh, and C′, respectively.

The architecture shown in the figure is representative of thearchitecture specified by the 3GPP (Third Generation PartnershipProject) in technical specification, TS 23.204. The architecture isrepresentative of architecture provided for SMS over IP.

The entity forming the IP-SM-GW 18 performs various functions includingfunctions related to protocol interworking for delivery of a shortmessage between the user equipment 12, an IP-based entity, and the shortmessage service center (SMSC) 28. Such functions include, for instance,connection to the GMSC 24 using established MAP (Mobile ApplicationPart) protocols over SS7 (Signaling System 7). The gateway 18 is causedthereby to appear to the GMSC 24 as a mobile switching center or aserving gateway service node (SGSN) using the E or Gd interface.Additional functionality provided by the gateway 18 provides connectionto the SMS-IWMSC using established MAP protocols over SS7 to cause thegateway to appear to the SMS-IWMSC as a mobile switching center or aserving gateway service node using the E or Gd interface. The gatewayfurther functions to communicate with the user equipment using IMSmessaging as transport while maintaining the format and functionality ofthe SMS message. Additionally, the gateway functions to acquireknowledge of association between MSISDN (Mobile Station InternationalSubscriber Directory Number) and IP (Internet Protocol) addresses of theuser equipment. And, the gateway functions to act as an applicationserver towards the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) core.

FIG. 2 illustrates various of the entities of the communication system10 shown in FIG. 1. Namely, the communication endpoints 12 and 32 inwhich the user equipment 12 is here represented by a mobile station areshown along with intermediate nodes formed of the IP-SM-GW 18, theSMS-GMSC/SMS-IWMSC 24, and the SMSC 28. A short message applicationlayer (SM-AL) 52, a short message transfer layer (SM-TL) 54, a shortmessage relay layer (SM-RL) 56, and a short message lower layer (SM-LL)58 comprise the layers of various of the entities.

Layers extending between the mobile station forming the user equipment12 and the service center 28 are shown. Certain circuit-switchedportions of a conventional circuit-switched communication system aresubstituted with an SIP/IP core network, here the IMS core 14 and theIP-SM-GW 18. An encapsulated SMS message, at the relay, transfer, andapplication layers is sent by the user equipment to the gateway 18. And,the gateway 18 acts as an interworking point using normal protocols usedto deliver SMS messages between the short message service center 28 andthe gateway MSC or the SGSN. If the communication system is implementedas an all IP network, the IP-SM-GW is replaced with an SIP/IP corenetwork permitting SIP protocol to be used directly between the userequipment and the SME 32 and the SMSC 28, acting as peer devices.

A protocol primitive of the SIP protocol, the SIP message method,provides for communication, and exchange, of MIME-type content usingconventional, SIP protocols. When used in an SIP network, SIP messagemethod messages are communicated in a point-to-point manner between endusers by way of a SIP/IP core network. And, messages are addressed to auser identity of the end user wherein the messages are formed of a SIPURI or of a TEL URI. As, however, short message service messaging is astore-and-forward type of scheme, mere use of SIP message methodprotocol primitives for the communication of SMS messages between endcommunication points cannot be used; rather, messages must be routed toa short message service center that permits the messages to be storedfor subsequent retrieval and delivery.

Pursuant to operation of an embodiment of the present invention, amanner is provided by which to provide for SMS messaging functionalitywhile permitting transport of the messages by way of a generic, IPnetwork, such as that represented by the IMS core 14.

FIG. 3 again illustrates the communication system 10, again shown toinclude user equipment 12, an IMS core 14, an IP-SM-GW 18, and a networkpart that includes a short message service center 28 positionable incommunication connectivity with a short message entity 32. The shortmessage entity 32 forms any type of communication device, or portionthereof, such as a mobile station or a wired communication device.

The user equipment 12, a mobile station, includes SME (Short MessageEntity) functionality 64 and here includes a storage element 66 disposedupon a SIM card or UICC 68. Electrical contacts of a card holder (notseparately shown) electrically connect the storage element 66 with a SIPrequest generator 72.

The user equipment, here forming a mobile station, also includestransceiver circuitry 74 to which the SME is functionally connected. Thetransceiver circuitry, in conventional manner, includes a transmit partand a receive part for transmitting signals generated during operationof the communication system, including uplink communication of an SIPrequest generated by the generator 72 and communicated by a transmitpart of the transceiver circuitry.

And, the user equipment also includes a user interface 76 that includesan input actuator by way of which a user inputs data that is to form SMScontent of an SMS message. The SIP request generated by the generator 72and caused to be transmitted by the transmit part of the transceivercircuitry 74 is shown at 78. The request includes an address 82 ofvalues corresponding to values stored at the storage element 66 andretrieved therefrom. And, the request also includes SMS content 84encapsulated in the request.

FIG. 3 further includes entities used pursuant to an alternateembodiment of the present invention, an embodiment in which the addressthat identifies the IP-SM-GW is provisioned to the user equipment, e.g.,by way of a radio air interface, or by way of a tethered or other wiredconnection with the user equipment. Here, a provisioner 88 operates todetect delivery to the user equipment of the provisioning information.Upon detection by the provisioner, the received address is stored as amanagement object, represented at 92. When a user of the user equipmentelects to send an SMS message, the content of the SMS message is inputby way of the user interface or otherwise provided by conventionalmanner. And, the SIP request generator retrieves the provisioned addressand addresses the SIP request with the retrieved address.

FIG. 4 again illustrates the communication system 10, here in which thenetwork forms an all IP network, obviating the need for a separateIP-SM-GW. The user equipment 12 is identical to that shown with respectto the implementation shown in FIG. 3. In this arrangement, instead, theaddress stored at the storage element 66, or at the object 92, comprisesan address of the SMSC 28.

During operation, the request generator addresses a SIP message methodthat contains an encapsulated SMS message with a SIP URI or TEL URIpublic service identity that represents the IM-SM-GW 18 in thearrangement shown in FIG. 3. If implemented in the arrangement shown inFIG. 4, the SIP URI or TEL URI public service identity that is retrievedand used is of the SMSC 28.

The appropriate address is configured at the user equipment orprovisioned thereto. In one implementation, the smart card, ISIM orUICC, is stored on an elementary file (EF), or other storage location ofa storage element, capable of reference by the user equipment. In analternate implementation, OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) device managementprotocols are used to inform the user equipment of the address of theIM-SM-GW. The provisioner 88 is utilized in this implementation, and anentry in a managed object, here the object 92, is available at the userequipment to contain the address of the IM-SM-GW. The provisioningmechanism, in one implementation is by way of download of aconfiguration file using client provisioning, such as a SIP CONFIGframework. And, the management object comprises, variously, an SMSmanagement object, a WLAN management object, or an IMS managementobject. That is to say, an appropriate managed object contains theaddress of the IM-SM-GW and, in various implementations, forms an IMSMO, a connectivity managed object for SMS, or other object. Theprovisioning mechanism by which the address is provisioned to the userequipment alternately forms, for instance, CDMA over the airprovisioning, use of SMS via circuit-switched bearers, as well asproprietary methods of wireless provisioning or provisioning of theaddress by way of a wired, e.g., tethered, connection to a data network.For instance, in one implementation, a BlackBerry™ desktop managerprovides the provisioning mechanism to a correspondingly configured userequipment device.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method flow diagram, shown generally at 112,representative of the method of operation of an embodiment of thepresent invention. The method facilitates communication of a messageoriginated at a short message capable communication device by way of anetwork having network entities comprising at least a short messageservice center.

First, and as indicated by the block 114, an identifier is stored thatidentifies a selected network entity of the network entities. Then, andas indicated by the block 116, a SIP request is generated that isaddressed with the identifier. The SIP request includes a short messageservice content encapsulated therein. The SIP request, once addressedwith the identifier, is permitting of routing thereof to the shortmessage service center.

And, once the SIP request is formed, the request, as indicated by theblock 118, is sent to the network entity to which the SIP request isaddressed.

Thereby, through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, anencapsulated SMS message is routable to a short message service centerby way of a generic, IP bearer.

The previous descriptions are of preferred examples for implementing theinvention, and the scope of the invention should not necessarily belimited by this description. The scope of the present invention isdefined by the following claims.

1. Apparatus for a short message service capable communication device,said apparatus facilitating communication of a message by way of anetwork having network entities comprising at least a short messageservice center, said apparatus comprising: a device managementprovisioner configured to provision a storage element with an identifierthat identifies a selected network entity of the network entities, theidentifier identifying a network interworking unit when the networkcomprises an SMS over IP network and the identifier identifying theshort message service center when the network comprises an all-IPnetwork; and a session initiation protocol, SIP, Request generatoradapted to receive the identifier stored at said storage element, saidSIP Request generator configured to generate an SIP Request addressedwith the identifier and the SIP Request having a short message servicecontent encapsulated therein; the SIP Request, once addressed,permitting routing thereof to the short message service center.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the identifier stored at said storageelement comprises a session initiation protocol uniform resourceidentifier, SIP URI.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identifierstored at said storage element comprises a telephone uniform resourceidentifier, TEL URI.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identifierstored at said storage element comprises a telephone uniform resourcelocator, TEL URL.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the identifierstored at said storage element is resolvable to an IP, InternetProtocol, address.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the SIP Requestgenerated by said SIP Request generator comprises a SIP primitive. 7.The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the SIP primitive forming the SIPRequest generated by said SIP Request generator comprises a SIP MessageMethod.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the short message content isencapsulated in the short message method.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the communication device comprises a mobile station having acard member at which said storage element is embodied.
 10. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein said provisioner comprises a dynamic hostconfiguration protocol, DHCP, message detector configured to detect aDHCP message containing the identifier and to provision said storageelement with the identifier contained in the DHCP message.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said provisioner comprises a Synch Mark-UpLanguage, Synch ML, message detector configured to detect a Synch MLmessage containing the identifier and to provision said storage elementwith the identifier contained in the Synch ML message.
 12. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein the provisioner is adapted to receive a configurationfile containing the identifier and to provision said storage elementwith the identifier contained in the configuration file.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein the configuration file that saidprovisioner is coupled to receive is downloaded thereto using the SIPconfig Framework.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storageelement that said provisioner provisions with the identifier comprises amanagement object.
 15. A method in a short message capable communicationdevice for facilitating communication of a message originated at thecommunication device, said method comprising: storing an identifier atthe communication device, the identifier identifying a selected networkentity, the identifier identifying a network interworking unit when thenetwork comprises an SMS over IP network and the identifier identifyinga short message service center when the network comprises an all-IPnetwork; generating a session initiation protocol, SIP, Requestaddressed with the stored identifier; encapsulating a short messageservice content in the SIP Request; and transmitting the SIP Requestaddressed with the stored identifier.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein transmitting the SIP Request addressed with the storedidentifier includes routing the SIP Request to the selected networkentity.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein storing the identifierincludes storing the identifier in a memory module of the communicationdevice.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein storing the identifierincludes storing identifier during a provisioning of the communicationdevice.
 19. A method in a communication network having network entitiescomprising a short message service center for facilitating communicationof a message originated at a short message capable communication device,said method comprising the operations of: storing an identifier at thecommunication device, the identifier identifying a selected networkentity of the network entities, the identifier identifying a networkinterworking unit when the network comprises an SMS over IP network andthe identifier identifying a short message service center when thenetwork comprises an all-IP network; generating a session initiationprotocol, SIP, Request addressed with the stored identifier;encapsulating a short message service content in the SIP Request; andpermitting the SIP Request addressed with the stored identifier to berouted to the short message service center.
 20. The method of claim 19further comprising the operation of sending the SIP Request from thecommunication device to the selected network entity.
 21. The method ofclaim 19, wherein storing the identifier includes storing the identifierin a memory module of the communication device.
 22. The method of claim19, wherein storing the identifier includes storing identifier during aprovisioning of the communication device.
 23. Apparatus for ashort-message service capable communication device to permit sending ofa short message service message to a short message service center by wayof an access independent network to which the short message servicecenter is positioned in communication connectivity, said apparatuscomprising: a SIP Request generator configured to generate an SIPRequest having a short message service content encapsulated therein andto communicate the SIP Request routable, by way of the accessindependent network to the short message service center, the SIP Requesthaving an identifier identifying a network interworking unit when thenetwork comprises an SMS over IP network and the identifier identifyinga short message service center when the network comprises an all-IPnetwork.